Jess Davis

In other news, I finished the second last chapter of Book3. One more to go, then just intro and conclusion.

I'll allow it.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

Academia giveth and also taketh away.

Success on one thing and no success on another thing. 'Tis a rollercoaster.

Opinion: As Canada prepares to go it alone on critical issues, a financial crimes agency is key It’s an opportunity to create a world-class system to protect our financial sector

A reminder of what I think that agency should do:

www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

And there's a DM-level lead for the Financial Crimes Agency.

It almost feels like there might be some movement on that file!

Carney is also bringing in someone from Blackrock to be the deputy for international trade.

Guess he didn't think the expertise at GAC was sufficient. (Tracks with recent treatment of GAC during WFA cuts...)

I'm not necessarily opposed, but it will require significant cooperation. Security & intelligence issues in Canada don't just have an international nexus -- they are driven by global factors, trends & issues.

Some interesting things here. It seems like a split between foreign policy and security & intelligence issues in Canada (no more NSIA position).

FINALLY

It was such a pleasure and an honour to be invited onto your great podcast, thank you!

Pro-Iran ‘hacktivists’ could target Canadian organizations, cybersecurity experts warn Political activists, journalists and human rights advocates also likely to be targeted, the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security says

Pro-Iran ‘hacktivists’ could target Canadian organizations, cybersecurity experts warn www.theglobeandmail.com/business/eco...

Available on YouTube, spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

YouTube video by Secure Line Nardi on Natsec

🚨🎙️A new Secure Line is out! @stephaniecarvin.bsky.social , @leahwest-nsl.bsky.social and I talk to @christopher.bsky.social about reporting on national security issues in Canada. It's a fun romp, so you'll definitely want to have a listen :)

youtu.be/V3WGmZqiNdQ?...

He took one of my newsletters, read it on his show, and didn't credit me at all. It was wild.

As someone who has been victimized by Ben Mulroney's "journalism", this delights.

Obscuring the Money Behind the Bombs: New Data on Terrorist Financial Tradecraft How terrorists are hiding the source, destination, and use of funds -- and what to do about it

🗞🚨Today's Insight Monitor is out! We're looking at how terrorists hide the source, destination, and use of funds. Have a read to learn about terrorist financing tradecraft, and how our tools need to adapt to counter it:

open.substack.com/pub/insighti...

That's not how the law, or terrorism analysis, works.

Putin’s friendship has limits — as Iran just found out Leaders in Damascus, Caracas and now Tehran have all discovered that Russian support only goes so far.

While Iran and Russia have partnerships (trade, weapons sales, illicit finance facilitation), there are limits:

"Although Russia and Iran in April 2025 signed a strategic partnership treaty, it did not include a mutual defense clause."

www.politico.eu/article/vlad...

FBI investigates Texas bar shooting that killed 2 and wounded 14 as possible terrorist act The FBI said the shooting was being investigated as a potential act of terrorism.

“A gunman wearing clothes with an Iranian flag design and the words “Property of Allah” killed two people and wounded 14 early Sunday at a Texas bar”

apnews.com/article/aust...

Small blessings.

The Axis of Illicit Finance: Iran’s Crypto Strategy Explained Part 1 of a new 8-part series on Iran's use of cryptocurrency for sanctions evasion

Iran's ability to evade sanctions helped sustain the regime, fund Iran's proxies, and facilitate trade. Part of the reason even the toughest sanctions were ineffective -- Iran developed a hybrid threat financing system using crypto. Read here:

newsletter.insightthreatintel.com/p/the-axis-o...

a close up of a man 's face with a beard and long hair ALT: a close up of a man 's face with a beard and long hair

Good morning Ottawa and welcome to our fifth month of winter.

Carney rules out Canadian military participation in Middle East conflict Prime Minister Mark Carney said while he has had discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump about the possibility of strikes in Iran over “recent weeks,” he does not expect Canada to take a military...

As expected, Canada not joining in the war against Iran: “We have not been party to the military build up to this, or the military planning of this. So, it is not envisioned that we would be part of it moving forward”

www.ctvnews.ca/world/articl...

I think a) you're right, this was a bit of a speech for the IR nerds in the room, and b) people really heard what they wanted from the speech (as we all do most of the time). So agree that this is dissapointing lots of folks.

Carney's speech was about realpolitik, identifying options and opportunities when they exist, and understanding the world as it is, not invoking the dead idea of a rules-based order (and international law). This statement is Davos in action.

I don't think it's realistic to have expected Canada not to say anything. Journalists (and Canadians) expect some sort of statement from the PM.

Xi Has Made China’s Currency Ambition Explicit What changes when China’s leader finally states a reserve currency ambition explicitly? Xi Jinping has now done so, calling for the renminbi to attain

"Xi Jinping...calling for the renminbi to attain global reserve currency status"

warontherocks.com/2026/02/xi-h...

Two things: a) Vocally opposing the US's action gets Canada nothing, so this tepid support makes sense.

b) The real support is in action, not words. I doubt we'll see any assets, resources, or tools deployed to support the US-Iran war.

Statement by Prime Minister Carney and Minister Anand on the situation in the Middle East Canada’s position remains clear: the Islamic Republic of Iran is the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East, has one of the world’s worst human rights records, and must ...

"Canada supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security."

www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/stat...